KHYF and SKY used the padukas of Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar’s name to project a clean image following Kausthub Desikachar’s reported sexual misconduct. Should the field support yoga teachers using their powerful family name to shield themselves from their abusive conduct?

Kausthub Desikachar could not deny allegations and reports against him, but he returned to official teaching in just six months. What are the standards of responsibility, trust, and safety of students to him and KHYF?

If Kausthub Desikachar has secret and special teachings from Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar, where are they? Beware the yoga guru who claims secret knowledge and his “specialness” as his selling point.

Kausthub Desikachar, CEO of KHYF, has multiple sexual abuse allegations against him over the past decade and more, forming a pattern that continues to this day. Should Yoga Alliance accept the registration of such organizations and teachers with a public history of numerous abuse allegations?

Viniyoga was used by many senior teachers from the 1980s to represent individualized yoga instruction, at the suggestion of TKV Desikachar. Kausthub Desikachar has now copyrighted the name to own it, and is threatening legal action against all those who use it.

A disturbing thread of power, myth making, silencing, and sex can be seen in Kausthub Desikachar’s publications, statements, and actions over many years and it continues now. If this is not checked, victims will not get justice and more vulnerable women will be hurt.

Abusers are enabled by powerful supporters out of misguided loyalty and emotion. The KYM appears to have suppressed Kausthub’s victims in 2007. To what extent does support for Kausthub still persist at the KYM behind the scenes, as some of the same people continue in leadership positions?

The timeline of events after Kausthub Desikachar’s sexual misconduct allegations in 2012 point to a cover-up rather than any meaningful reform. After just a few months of absence, he returned to teaching on topics related to trauma and women’s issues.

Kausthub Desikachar has a pattern of praising kapalikas who were known for their tantric sex practices, contrary to Krishnamacharya and Desikachar’s teaching. Kausthub is back to increasingly teaching on these topics just a few years after sexual abuse allegations against him.

Kausthub Desikachar’s pattern of sexual misconduct has been reported for over a decade now. How much more abuse has to happened before enablers and supporters step back and women feel safe to speak up?